One thing I would suggest is to study pics and add a lot of pop rivets and screws wherever you see them in pics of the real seat. (...) I have asked Dunk to make molds of the quick disconnects for the hoses too. I hope he does, but it looks like you made one already. Can you post a better pic of that? Great job, dude. Nigel

That's the plan regarding the rivets. I use pop up rivets and small nails to simulate rivets. The nails look great. The pop up rivet need the hole to be fill.

My quick diconector is just a plumbering connector, I will take a pictur later...

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I am working on the plates on the top of the seat sides. This is the left one:

Tulkas' simulator - progress

The problem is how attach it. MDF is not a very good friend of screws, especially on the edge. It will brake in layers:

Tulkas' simulator - progress

So I decided to use some small threaded inserts:

Tulkas' simulator - progress

One of the things I enjoy the most about pitbuilding is to go to a normal hardware shop and just walk around among the shelves with some pit parts in my head until I find some object which could be transformed in the needed part. This time was the oxy ring from a ring to attach boats, it was the perfect size:

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Some hard work to saw away the screw and some mor work and a couple of drill bites broken to get hole for the cable, was really hard!

Dude, youre pit rocks! I LOVE how you are building and fabricating from scratch. It looks amazingly real. Those threaded inserts are invaluable. I use them a lot. I have them all over my pit in acrylic parts. For my HUD box I needed to add a bunch. First pilot drill a hole slightly undersize thenI take a screw with insert just like your picture and heat it up with a cigarette lighter. Then insert it QUICKLY into the hole and eyeball it as straight as possible. after it cools I carefully work the screw loose and it's done. This method might work for knobs using insrts from Mcmaster-Carr. Keep it up and thanks for the great pics.Nigel

I spent the weekend finishing a million little things in the seat: install the top plates on the sides, install the parts which goes from the oxy bottle to the ring, finish the ejection mechanism, finishing the arm lever mechanism, paint the locking leverr, etc... and now this baby is really close to be finished.

Top of the right side

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Switch for the arm lever and top of the left side:

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Painted arnes lock lever, it was a green one from a plane from the 50-60s I think

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Now the seat is ready for the final paint work and the stickers. Only left to be made the release handle and the data recorder. Shoulder arnes system will have to wait for a very good offer.

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The seat cannot be use with the CH Pedals, human anatomy matter. In the long term I will get Simped or other. But my CH are still working great so is a pity ti spend a lot of money in new pedals, money that can be use to move forward other parts of the cockpit. So I am planning to meke a temporary modification of my CH ProPedals to adapt them to the cockpit.

Can someone give me dimensions and pictures for the real pedals please? I only need the part where you place your foot, front and side. Thank you very much.

Minor detail: the hose from the oxygenbottle goes behind the backseat cushion, to the rightside of the seat, to the CRU. The hose from the quickdisconnector goes into the seat, and then under the seat to the front were it connects to a initiator which is activated by the ejecthandle.

Ray, you are of course right but I thought it was a nice looking solution (tricky though ) and maybe in the future I will go for the right set up if I get the parts for it.

Tor, man, you don?t know what you have done offering to feed me, that?s a risky offer on your side without knowing my eating habits. My wife told me to accept, big relief for the family budget

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This one was a easy one after all I have passed with the seat:

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Tulkas' simulator - progress

When I showed it to my wife she thought that the Mike?s data tag gave it the realistic touch, I had to agree, it would not have been the same just with a sticker, the volumetric engraving is really cool. So now you know, if you are building the date recorder in your next order to Mike ask for the tag. For no money plus two pop rivets it will look really cool.

In position:

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Pipe work done on the right side:

Tulkas' simulator - progress

Working on the manual chute handle and I will proclame the seat as finished for the time being. Low priority to get real parts like harnesses, oxy hoses and connections, etc.. but I will wait for those ones as "cherry on top" of a finished cockpit.